Abstract
Purpose:
Corneal blindness accounts for nearly 10 million cases of vision loss worldwide. Though corneal can be surgically removed and replaced with tissue from a deceased donor. Currently the only alternative to allograft tissue replacements is synthetic keratoprosthesis, however, these exhibits a relatively high host rejection rate. Silk proteins represent a unique choice in biomaterial selection for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications due to fibroin’s non-immunogenic response upon in vivo implantation, controllable material degradation rates, tunable and robust mechanical properties. In this research, we implanted helicoidal multi-lamellar features of RGD-functionalized silk biomaterials in corneal stroma of rabbit, and evaluated the biocompatibility of this new biomaterial.
Methods:
Implanted helicoidal multi-lamellar features of RGD-functionalized silk biomaterials in corneal stroma of rabbit, setting up control group at the same time. Observed the biomaterial under the slit lamp and Pentacam. Meanwhile, hematoxylin and eosin stain, immunofluorescence, scanning electron microscope were used to the corneal at the 7d, 1m, 3m to evaluate the biocompatibility of this new biomaterial.
Results:
The 2d, 4d, 7d, 30d, 90d rates of inflammatory reaction and new vessels didn’t have obviously difference. The helicoidal multi-lamellar features of RGD-functionalized silk biomaterials were integrity and transparent during the whole experiment. The biomaterials didn’t cause immunogenic response as well as degradation in rabbit corneal stroma. The content of Collagen I increased over the 6 mouths, meanwhile the contects of Collagen III and fibronectin increased to a peak , then decreased gradully. Cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology were detected at 3m by scanning electron microscope. The extracellular matrix deposited well on the surface of the silk fibroin biomaterials, tightly adhered with the biomaterial.
Conclusions:
Implanted helicoidal multi-lamellar features of RGD-functionalized silk biomaterials in corneal stroma of rabbit, the biomaterial had perfect biocompatibility with the corneal stroma. The biomaterial degradated slowly in the corneal tissue; cause less inflammatory reaction or form of new vessels. This new biomaterial didn’t cause immunological rejection as well.
Keywords: 480 cornea: basic science •
575 keratoprostheses •
484 cornea: stroma and keratocytes